Voting Procedure on Questions relating to Reports and Petitions concerning the Territory of South West Africa
OVERVIEW OF THE CASE
Following the preceding Advisory Opinion the General Assembly concerning the International Status of South West Africa, on 11 October 1954, adopted a special Rule F on voting procedure to be followed by the Assembly in taking decisions on questions relating to reports and petitions concerning the Territory of South West Africa. According to this Rule, such decisions were to be regarded as important questions within the meaning of Article 18, paragraph 2, of the United Nations Charter and would therefore require a two-thirds majority of Members of the United Nations present and voting. In its Advisory Opinion of 7 June 1955, the Court considered that Rule F was a correct application of its earlier Advisory Opinion. It related only to procedure, and procedural matters were not material to the degree of supervision exercised by the General Assembly. Moreover, the Assembly was entitled to apply its own voting procedure and Rule F was in accord with the requirement that the supervision exercised by the Assembly should conform as far as possible to the procedure followed by the Council of the League of Nations.
This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.